Graph-Based Test-Synthesis Tool Creates Verification Plans

The complexity of today's system-on-a-chip designs creates serious verification
challenges in various respects. It's increasingly difficult to write an effective
and comprehensive verification plan. Developing a set of test vectors is itself
an enormous undertaking, with as many as 10 lines of code needed for each line
of RTL in the design under test.

One way to approach this problem is a graph-based technique that breaks the verification problem down into a hierarchy combined with a set of dependencies. In its
Trek functional test-synthesis tool, startup Breker Verification Systems looks to help
with the daunting task of developing functional vectors. The tool also tackles the
problem of understanding, defining, and analyzing verification requirements.

Earlier attempts at graph-based approaches to functional verification haven't
panned out, as the graphs proved too large and unwieldy. Breker's tack, which
is to combine graph-based techniques with a dependency resolution engine, provides
graphical feedback to visualize the verification plan and analyze it for completeness
and coverage before beginning simulation runs (see
the figure). According to the company, this ensures the inclusion of all
functional cases in the construction of the verification plan. The plan may
be input in either graphical format or as source code.

The verification plan is then used to automatically generate test vectors, which
provide input stimulus to the design and check that the output results are correct.
Trek is compatible with testbench tools for SystemVerilog, Verilog, Vera, Specman,
and SystemC.

Pricing for the Trek functional test-synthesis tool starts at $32,000 for one-year
time-based licenses. The tool is available now.